1. FILTER TAP WATER
It is better to put a filter on your faucet or buy a water jug with a filter than to use plastic bottles.
2. DON’T DRIVE THRU
Idling your car in the drive-thru lanes causes you to burn more gas, not to mention the extra pollution you’re creating.
3. USE A TRAVEL MUG
Take it to your favorite coffee shop and they will fill it up.
4. LUNCH BOX HERO
Use reusable containers for your homemade lunch.
5. GREEN THUMB
Try growing your own vegetables this year. You’ll have fresh veggies on your table, no car trips to the store to buy them — and you know they’ll be pesticide free!
6. SCRUB-A-DUB-DUB
Natural cleaning products leave the kitchen clean and your health in check. Try using time-tested solutions such as vinegar and lemons or baking soda and water to get your kitchen sparkling.
7. WINE NOT
Organic wine is made from grapes grown without synthetic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Thirsty? Try these ones out:
- Frog’s Leap sauvignon blanc
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- Finca
8. IN THE RAW
How about a dinner of chilled soup, salads, veggies buns and cold cuts — no cooking, no energy use.
9. DIS THE DISPOSABLE
Eliminate use of disposable aluminum foil, plastic wrap and baggies for leftovers. Instead, use glass or ceramic bowls with lids.
10. LOCAL SUPPORT
Eating local, seasonal food supports local farms and saves energy from less transportation and less refrigeration.
11. LESS PACK MORE SNACK
Buy food at farmers markets where most of the food is unwrapped and you can bring your own bags.
12. TOTALLY ORGANIC
Choosing to buy organics allows you to rest a bit easier, knowing your produce, meat and milk were produced in a way that’s safer for you and for the environment.
13. ‘TIL DEATH DO YOU PART
Switch to a reusable coffee filter.
14. FILL IT UP
Reuse glass condiment jars for craft projects and storage.
15. BOOKS
Some good books for some good green tips:
- The 100-Mile Diet by Alisa Smith
- Slow Food Nation by Carlo Petrini
16. BAG IT
Plastic bags are made from petroleum and only about 1% of plastic bags used worldwide are recycled. So next time you go shopping bring your own reusable bag.
17. THE DAILY DIRT
Compost your kitchen scraps.
18. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT
Pasture-raised, organic, and local meat will empty your wallet faster, but cheap meat costs a lot when you factor in its long-term effect on the environment and human health.
19. DON’T OVER BOIL
When heating water for tea, boil only the amount you need — it takes less time and helps save energy.
20. PESTY PESTICIDES
Try to buy the organic version of these five fruits and vegetables, which have been shown to retain the highest level of pesticides: Peaches, sweet bell peppers, apples, celery, and strawberries.
21. REAL GREAT PLATES
Avoid using paper plates … and plastic forks … and plastic spoons … and plastic knives.
22. REHEAT AND EAT
Use leftovers to create dinner the next night. Reheating uses less energy than cooking again.
23. GRILLIN OUT
Outdoor grills take less energy than your stove and keep heat out of the house, reducing costly strain on your AC. Better still: Upgrade to induction cooking — it’s most efficient.
24. TIME IS MONEY
Use your dishwasher in off peak hours to save energy and money.
25. GO SURFING
Spend some time on the net looking up eco- friendly sites and more information on greening your kitchen and lifestyle.
- treehugger.com
- thedailygreen.com
26. FABRIC FIRST
Don’t use paper napkins. Invest in some durable cloth ones to dress up your table.
27. LIFELONG FRIENDS
Instead of buying cheaper products choose good quality pots, pans and utensils that will last for years.
28. TWICE IS NICE
When using your oven cook two things at once.
29. PRESSURE’S ON
Save energy with a pressure cooker — they can reduce cooking time by up to 70%.There are tons of books and websites with recipes!
30. TOASTY AND WARM
Try cooking smaller meals in your toaster oven.
Source:
Not enough people realize the green benefits of using a pressure cooker, and how great the food tastes when pressure cooking. The shortened time and the increased nutrition and bonuses. It makes it so easy to cook beans, grains and vegetables which I think ought to be the basis for most diets. Choosing those foods, locally grown, will help green the world. Good tips.